Little Falls transcript., 1887-06-10
Restricting Paslper. Hnmigra-
AON. T..

From the Pioneer Press. =

IT lItiS tNcu piupOscN tiltt III CAaltli1lit'
tinn of the character ami resources
persons intending TO emm grate to the
United States should he made by Amer
lean consul at the point from which they
depart, and that no one should be
admitted to this country with cut q
consular certificate Of approval. The
Suggestion is one worth thinking oyer.
Within tie last few years there has been
a great change in public opinion upon
'hetsubject of unrestricted immi grafton.
This country does not contemplate now,
any more than it ever did, the shutting:
Of its, doors against worthy people who;
seek to transfer them selves to its
allegiance. Bat experience has taught
the necessity of some scrutiny and re-
strictior. The Chinese problem gave IA
our first lesson. The practice of hiring
ignorant and turbulent laborers in
Europe, and bringing them over in
large bodies to displace, at starvation
| rates Of work k1ngmen Of Americana
practice, by the way, devised and carried
out by these who denouncu most
rloQuently any reduction of the tariff as
a boon to "pauper labor''--in its turn de-
manued Legislative remedy. We become
aware, also, that European nations were
finding 1t the most convenient DISPOSE
1iCn Of their rDaupers, criminals and
luna'ics to furnish them with free
! transportation to the United States.
There are laws 10 prevent this, but they
are practically incapable Of execution.
The rush of imnai grants 10 this conntry
was never greater than it is to day; The
charlc''r Of a large portion Of the in
/ coming body has changed for the worse.
From the back streets Of Italian cities.
10 1hc remoest corners tf Russian
Poland, the impression has spread:
! among the poorest and most helpless
that they will find employment and:
wealth ON The other side Of he Atlantic,
| and .mong the authorities that they can
dispose Of their criminals and dependents
for good and all by shipping them 10:
America. Every great ocean steamer
| under the ban Of the law requiring an.
immigrant either TO have means for his
| own supper, or to have friends at his
destination who will be able to take
| care Of him. |, is impossible to execute
| that law at Castle Garden. Every week
| Immigrants are sent hack again to.
Europe. But every week there is a
larrc nuNlhrr who cyadc the regulations
| and p"ss'n shore, only tn btcr'He a
charge upon the !cublic in almel,"ueeS,.
! luna,,c a*vlum~ and jails Where there
are rs many IL 1000 immi grants apply
ing for admission in sin.l' day, a~ is
! the case ?, New York this season. moth
ing b"t an immense staff O; o!iic!a's
| conld lhnuru'yhiy silt them. And, il
rules cnu|d be enforced vigorously. here
| the secondary ports Of entry would still!
| afford aauli:tance to the motley crew of
incapablcs. The people Of the United
States do nrt desire to shut out a single
worthy Immigrant. But they are deter
mined thai ,he DRIFT OF tio,Sam which, in
New York state, hrs incrc ascd the
population ot insane asyluuls by ~ PEI
cent while the popuIa'irn without in
creased by Eut - rer cent, should be
stopped. They want il made impossible
for the authorities OF 'c"ngcstel dis
tricts' in Europe to furnish persons
unable to earn Il living al home with
a stcerage ticket and a draft for five
| dollars, 50 that they can declare 1hem
selves not destitute, and then Ship them
over bodily for Us to take care of.
Not only are our charitable and other
public institutions lil!ea by lIis means,
nut every social and politician problem
is aggravated and intensified hy dump
iug uren our suIf,age list The loves,
elements of nations which know moth
i,i1 0t free institutions. A! home we
have 40 remedy. 1t is p'ul'aNle ,!iat one
can lie found in The proposal to require a
consul.s certificate hciorc starring
Usually This .1uncliona'y's position is
largely d >inecurc. Here is valuable
work which he may DC. 1t is con-
para!ivcIy easy for him to ascertain
what are HE circumstances Of any person
setting AS an immigrant 10 Ainerlci
from 'he ports where Nc is stationed
The plan ofpublic authorities 10 'shil
their criminals and dependents TO the
United States may clu<ie the vigilance
of Castle Garden; it can hardly cscap,
the knuwlcdge of our Representative
upon the SPOT where it is carried uul
he subject is one which may vel
engage the attention OF congress. Ou
Invitation TO the oppressed of the nations
has been abused beyond The pcint o
endurance. Either we must renal,
content as the poorhouse and genera
asylum for all Europe, or We mus
protect ourselves. 1t is the working
man who is most Immediately interesle
in better regulation of immigration
He should make himself heard upon
; matter which affects him more directl
and injuriodsly thousand fold tha
all the contract labor that was eve
employed in all the prisons of th